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In biochemistry, a transferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a functional group (e.g. a methyl or phosphate group) from one molecule (called the donor) to another (called the acceptor). For example, an enzyme that catalyzed this reaction would be a transferase:
- A–X + B → A + B–X
In this example, A would be the donor, and B would be the acceptor. The donor is often a coenzyme.
Nomenclature
Proper names of transferases are formed as "donor:acceptor grouptransferase." However, other names are much more common. The common names of transferases are often formed as "acceptor grouptransferase" or "donor grouptransferase." For example, a DNA methyltransferase is a transferase that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group to a DNA acceptor.
Classification
Transferases are classified as EC 2 in the EC number classification. Transferases can be further classified into nine subclasses:
References
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 26 September 2008, at 05:53.
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